Function

• A fashion consultant or stylist helps a client refine her wardrobe for a particular purpose. The consultant might be asked for help in building a business wardrobe, analyzing suitable colors for a client or selecting uniforms for a company. There are also nonprofit charities that build wardrobes and help the underprivileged, such as Dress for Success. The bottom line for a fashion consultant is that their clientele comes out looking and feeling better than they did coming in.
  
  

Types

• There are many types of fashion consultants. Some are focused on commercial needs, such as creating promotional outfits as part of a corporate identity package. Others serve to help individuals revamp their look. For instance, a woman may not know how to shop after losing significant amounts of weight. In this case, a wardrobe consultant would advise on what silhouettes, fabrics and colors would compliment her new shape.
  
  Fashion stylists can also advise and select clothing for photo shoots, important events and fashion shows.
  
  Fashion consultants are often called image consultants. Because they often end up tweaking clothing, accessories, cosmetic colors and hair, a wardrobe advisor can completely change the client's overall impression on others.
  
  

Benefits

• A good fashion consultant can make a significant difference in how a person is perceived. As shallow as it may seem, much is placed on a person's outward appearance. Wardrobe stylists do their best to make certain that the look matches or enhances the message a person wishes to portray. They work to boost their client's credibility, self-esteem and confidence by introducing a new standard of appearance.
  
  

History

• Fashion consulting has existed in different forms throughout history. In the Regency era, for example, a young lady could hire assistance to help her break into society during the London social season. This assistant would advise the young woman on suitable garments and trappings for her society debut, since the wrong dress or hat could signify country thinking or a crass demeanor. People of means also employed valets and ladies' maids that were well versed in the latest fashions, fit and style trends. As the nature of retail clothing changed, department stores began to offer personal shopping as an added perk for their better customers. Now leading chains of all levels from Neiman-Marcus to Macy's offer shopping and consultation services.
  
  

Significance

• As society becomes more appearance driven, a well-coordinated look is seen as necessary for career and personal growth. Although many people refer to Web sites and books for wardrobe help, these can't replace a visit to a real-life fashion consultant or stylist. Fashion consultancy is now a part of popular culture, as shows like The Learning Channel's "What Not to Wear" and Bravo's past hit "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" bring image makeovers front and center. The wider notice of fashion consulting in our culture speaks to people's aspirational appeal to become something more than what they have been.